if you already have a home network and a router(or computer acting as a router) i would sugest just getting a D-Link DWL-2100AP

it's a 802.11G wireless Accesspoint that will turn any existing wired network into a wireless network, and with a compatable card and good enuff signal strenth u can get 108Mbps link wirelessly ..

i would seriously sugest once you setup the basics on the laptop you add it's mac address (the wireless cards MAC) to the allowed list and deny unknown mac's in the wireless AP's (what ever one you do get) configuration
then change the stock channel to one that no one else uses in your neighboor hood (makes for better signal ...). if u get any other wireless networks that is..
turn off SSID broadcasting (helps prevent others from detecting your wireless network)
and set a custom SSID that is not descriptive of your house/ or any other address ... (just use a nickname, not real name..)

i have seen wireless networks with names or addresses as their SSID when i was first studying how it all works, it just makes it much easier to find the best signal and use that network for free internet... yet people still do it after the news blew the whole wireless thing up showing how easy it really is to steal others' inet..

this is how i setup mine... knowing that people could just drive by with a $30 wireless card and a $50 antenna and use my inet to hack... (i have first hand experience with how easy it is cause the public doesn't secure their wireless... :/ )